Looking for a job sucks.

In the same boat as a lot of the people in this thread, graduated last year and have had a nightmare finding work. I have been offered one or two 2month contract jobs, I decided not to take them as it means once the contract is up I could be out of a job for a while until I find a new one. Something I can’t afford.

Agencies don’t seem to get me anywhere, they just seem to give me the run-around most of the time. I shall keep looking in the meantime though

Applied for the police instead :D
 
colinuk said:
try the major agencies, computer people, futures hays IT ect. send them a cv and a cover letter saying you have a degree, now you need experince and willing to do anything as you have no money coming in. Go for the £10 an hour jobs for a month or two, see if you like it, if your good at it, then look for full time work. Tell the agencies your after full time work, it can be done.

Ive been doing contracting for 11 years, all i have is a NVQ3, if i can do it, im dam sure you can with a bit of elbow grease and lots of phone calls, phone calls are your friend, at least 4 or 5 a day...

just do it! lol....

Colin
Click to expand...

You seem to know your stuff, would i be able to email you my CV and you check it over, make any criticisms (sp?). Only if you have any spare time, dont wanna impede on your day :)

Many thanks again for your help & i have just emailed a few agencies with my CV, thanks for your advice.
 
I think your CV might be letting you down. Post it up here.

With regards to this 'you're limitted to 18K' - its rubbish. If you try hard, you can get far.
 
Feel free to post your CV, not much point sending it to me as im no god at CV's, hell, spelling is hard enough for me lol..

But im sure people on here, me too, will look it over for you.

Go for as much as you can. Remeber though full time is not paid as much contracting so when you look at rates of pay, remeber that.
 
Keith McCulloch

 Home:
Mobile:
[email protected]

Education

 Napier University 2006 – 2007

BSc Network Computing
Subjects Studied: Computer Networks, Networked Systems, Network Infrastructure, Database Systems & Computer Networks for Windows.

 Stevenson College Edinburgh; 2004 – 2006

 HND Computing Technical Support
Subjects Studied: Cisco CCNA [4 Semesters], Windows Networking, Computer Architecture, Computer System Support, Network Technology, & Computer Support

 Craigmount High School; 1998 – 2004

4 Highers ; Computing History [C], Geography [C], Information Systems [D]
[]8 Standard Grades; Computing [2], Geography [2], History [2], Biology [3], Drama [3], English [3], German [4], Maths [4]



Personal Statement
 I consider myself to be a loyal, hardworking and very enthusiastic individual. I am excited by the prospect of being challenged daily and relish such opportunities to expand on my knowledge of IT.

 I work well as team member or independently, if the situation dictates. I am proactive and work well under pressure.

Work Experience
 Craigmount High School

 September 2006 – June 2007
I helped out, once a week at Craigmount High School by doing voluntary work. I help out with any technical problems with any hardware or network issues, I also help with installation of educational software on many of the computers and help with any network issues which arise.



Thorntons

 June 2005 – Present
I currently work in Thorntons as a Senior Sales Assistant. This job involves cashing up, dealing with customers, stocking up, working under pressure during busy periods, doing many tasks quickly and to a high standard.

Computer Skills


  • PC Builds – Repair & Diagnosis of Windows XP/Vista and Server 2003 Machines
  • Microsoft Office 2003 & 2007
  • LAN/WAN, TCP/IP and Networking Technologies.
  • Active Directory
  • DNS
  • SQL
  • VMware & Virtual PC 2007
  • ISA server 2007
Activities/Interests


 I enjoy building computers and keeping up to date with computer related issues.
I enjoy reading books, watching DVD’s, meeting new people, football, snooker, going to
 the gym and music.

References

[font=&quot]
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 The layout has been borked in here, so ive done my best to sort it out.


CV is currently 1 1/2 pages long, so not too long and not short either

 [font=&quot]Again, thanks to everyone for your help :) xx [/font]
 
continue qualifications

i went to craigmount too. my friend has just come out this year from napier with a degree in networking. he now has a job working for a civil engineering company earning about 18k starting wage. he is their network administrator or something. best piece of advice he gave me is to sign up to loads of agencies but then hastle them like there is no tomorrow. agencies will always try and shun you for someone who might get them a higher wage or whatever. you have to keep calling and emailing them to make sure they are doing their job. apart from that why not do some extra qualifications or more volunteer work while you wait. CV looks good though
 
** Work Experience
Craigmount High School

September 2006 – June 2007
I helped out, once a week at Craigmount High School by doing voluntary work. I help out with any technical problems with any hardware or network issues, I also help with installation of educational software on many of the computers and help with any network issues which arise.

**

As this is your only source of hands on time in IT, make the most of it. Id change it to something along the lines of;

Work Experience
Craigmount High School

September 2006 – June 2007
While at Craigmount High School I gained a vast knowledge of IT work by doing voluntary work. I resolved technical problems, hardware or network issues. I was also part of the team which installed educational software on many of the computers in the School. The hardware was a mix of <insert names like DELL, HP, IBM, COMPAQ> Printers were <again, insert names>. I found this to be an interesting time where it taught me the value of research and taking to users to get the best from the system in place.

-------------

Its not lying, or telling fibs, but you need to EMPHISIZE your skills more. Tell them nothing bad, only the good bits. If they ask you how often did you work at the school, then tell them 1 day a week.

Hope it helps - check it for spelling and grammer errors, im an IT worker, not a English major lol...

Colin

Other than that - looking good.

Do like the other person says too, spam the agencies, breath agencies, if you dont know an agent in theer by his 1st name and the sound of his voice on the phone, your not talking to them enough :) imo :)
 
With regards to your CV, you want to make it more focused. You are a graduate - and there should be more emphasis on your education section (grades, related modules etc).

You need to bulk up your experience section. Talk more about your responsibilties, achievements, skills required etc.

For activities, don't just list what you like doing. Are you part of my clubs? If so, include it and state your responsibilities.

Also, its referees, not references.
 
have you taken a look at planetrecruit, found job offers in no time, also gradjobs.

One thing that I seem to be seeing a lot of on CVs from this forum, but have never personally done is this personal statement malarky, why do people put that in, surely its all covered in the covering letter? I am genuinely curious, not having a dig.

I graduated 2 months ago btw.
 
DAVEM said:
Sorry to hear that mate. But seriously if you're degree is from a top uni you WILL get employed soon.

I stick to my general comment, anyone with above BBB at A-Level and a degree => 2.2 will get employed (and from a top 20 uni). I don't know of anyone at that level who didn't find a job after 6 months of graduation.

If you have less than BBB at Alevel expect less than 18,000

Davem
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I have a 2.1 from UMIST (Manchester now) in computing scient and BBC - Physics, Computing, Maths. I started on more than 18,000 and have had a significant pay-rise in my first year. How much you get paid mostly depends on which kind of career you decide to have not what your grades were. A lowely paid consultant gets paid a lot more than 3rd line desktop support.
 
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Gigi said:
You phoned the agency after sending out the application? Never thought about that. May i ask what would you say when phoning up.

Many thanks.
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I'm interested in the position and it fits the career I want to do. Just a courtacy call to check they've got my CV and to ask if they have any other positions they think might suit my experience and direction.
 
Not prepared to post CV sorry.

Couple of tips:

CVs are traditionally written in the third person.

Skip out anything which isn't relivant - they skim read CVs in the extreme - having the person on the phone after you've sent your CV makes sure they read it and maybe ask one or two questions. If you miss out the non-relivant suff the questions should allow you to enphasise how suitable you are for the position. You can tailor the CV for each role but generally 3 versions should fit for most jobs.

Never over-react or do anything to worry the interviewer. Everything is just A-OK - smile when you're on the phone.

Your major selling factors are that you're young with no commitments so you can travel, work late and are as keen as a razor. You want to appear reliable and focused as this is a major consern for fresh grads. If you know where you want your career to go - even if it's just a simple plan that adds a lot.

Always phone as Colin said - phones are great things, a call with good phone manner is the difference between an interview and 3 seconds of skim reading.
 
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On the other side of the coin my company has been trying to hire a helpdesk bod for months, we've actually offered to 3 people only to have them refuse.

Sure, the initial pay isn't great but its a good base level opportunity.
 
Stolly said:
On the other side of the coin my company has been trying to hire a helpdesk bod for months, we've actually offered to 3 people only to have them refuse.

Sure, the initial pay isn't great but its a good base level opportunity.
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This reminds me:

Car phone warehouse is where all my 2:2 uni buddies ended up. Think they are still hireing and have offices up north (not sure where you want to work), might be worth looking at.
 
I found my local papers website to be the best. I graduated in at the start of July and had 2 job offers by the end of the month.

(I got a 2:2 from Umist/Manchester)
 
Hey Gigi I did the HND/HND at Stevenson College and then onto the degree at Napier to. Like you I also decided against doing the honours as in my opinion all the projects were aimed towards software/programming with networking completely overlooked!

Also had the same problem as you with every IT job wanting 2+ years experience. Finally got lucky when a high school in Livingston needed an IT Tech and I managed to land the job. Starting pay is 16.5K but it should go up fairly fast.

Do you drive or are you limited to the Edinburgh area? If you can drive you should branch out to areas just outside of Edinburgh dude.
 
ColdAsIce said:
Hey Gigi I did the HND/HND at Stevenson College and then onto the degree at Napier to. Like you I also decided against doing the honours as in my opinion all the projects were aimed towards software/programming with networking completely overlooked!

Also had the same problem as you with every IT job wanting 2+ years experience. Finally got lucky when a high school in Livingston needed an IT Tech and I managed to land the job. Starting pay is 16.5K but it should go up fairly fast.

Do you drive or are you limited to the Edinburgh area? If you can drive you should branch out to areas just outside of Edinburgh dude.
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You didnt happen to do the HNC/HND between 2004-2006 did you? :)

I know what you mean about Napier, go there to do a networking degree and we are made to create a program about Photo Albums etc. total waste of time.
 
Just got back from work and been reading the replies and have to say, many many thanks for all your help!

I've made changes to my CV and starting from tomorrow im gonna be up there arses etc.

Again, many thanks to everyone! :)
 
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